Why the early attention to this particular made-up garbage character as opposed to the others? Because in this case the pandering is so obvious.

I really don't see the alteration of the gender of the Wood-elf captain and giving her a name (as well as expanding her role) as necessarily pandering. Jackson may have given her a good reason to take up a bow instead of marrying and having children; maybe Tauriel is incapable of having children so that defending the kingdom is her contribution to the common good. Perhaps we should wait to actually see her on film before we judge the character too harshly. 'Thus spake Ioreth, wise-woman of Gondor: The hands of the king are the hands of a healer, and so shall the rightful king be known.' - Gandalf the White